Thousands march in Tunis to protest Morsi ousting (PHOTOS)

Tunisians rally to show their support for the ousted Egyptian president along Habib Bourguiba Avenue on July 13, 2013, in Tunis (AFP Photo / Fethi Belaid) / AFP

Several thousand people gathered in the Tunisian capital of Tunis on Saturday to protest the Egyptian army’s overthrow of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. Demonstrators waved Tunisian and Egyptian flags while shouting anti-military slogans.

Both Tunisia and Egypt saw long-standing autocratic regimes
toppled in the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011.

Speakers at the Tunisian rally shouted slogans denouncing
Egyptian General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who issued the military’s
ultimatum to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Protesters could be heard yelling “Down with military
power!” and “No to the force of arms, yes to the ballot
box!” during the demonstration.

They also poured scorn on Egypt’s Tamarod movement, which means
'rebellion' in Arabic. The movement’s mobilization of
anti-Brotherhood protesters was an important factor in Morsi’s
eventual downfall.

“This military coup was inspired by outside parties and aims
to overthrow Arab Spring Islamist governments. It a war against
Islam,” said 42-year-old protester Salem Achour, as quoted by
Al Arabiya.

One of the speakers at the rally directly addressed Morsi’s
supporters in Cairo.

The protest was organized by Tunisia’s ruling Islamist Ennahda
party after last week’s requests for pro-Morsi demonstrations
were rejected.

One day after the coup that ousted Morsi, the opposition Nidaa
Tounes party demanded the departure of the ruling Islamists in
Tunisia, calling for a government of national unity.

Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki has ruled out a repeat of the
events that toppled Morsi, but has stressed the need to pay
attention to popular demands.

Earlier Saturday, Egypt announced a criminal investigation
against Morsi and other members of the Muslim Brotherhood amid
complaints of spying, inciting violence, and ruining the
economy. The prosecutor’s office said in statement
that eight other Brotherhood members - including Supreme Guide
Mohamed Badie - were being investigated.

Announcement of the move was considered unusual, as prosecutors
typically wait until charges are filed before making them public.